Letter: Development is destroying too many trees

“Under the Oaks”: Once upon a time, this was a good description of Tallahassee. Now, not so much.

Our majestic oak trees are being slaughtered, and with them, the look and feel of Tallahassee. The Cascades Project will be cutting down many enormous old-growth oaks that surround a parking lot across from Cascades Park. Why couldn’t the lot be left alone as a shady parking lot for park visitors, or develop around the trees? The Douglas building is a shining example of this.

Cascadesproject.com states: “In order to achieve the density required for the project to be successful, many of the trees will be impacted.” If you continue reading, you find out only one old-growth oak will be saved.

When the Costco shopping center was developed, they saved only one old-growth oak as well. Why is this allowed in a city that is known for its trees? Saving more of the majestic oaks would have been aesthetically pleasing and would have provided much needed shade.

“In Tallahassee, developers are required to replace trees removed for development and/or pay into the tree bank.” Look around: Do the replanted trees make up for what is lost?

Diane Gibson, Havana, madimeje@yahoo.com

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